Country celebrates Negenahira Navodaya today
Rohan MATHES
COLOMBO: The prestigious national event Negenahira Navodaya (Eastern
Resurgence) will be held this morning at the Independence Square,
Colombo with President Mahinda Rajapaksa presiding as Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces.
The national ceremony will mark the comprehensive victory and the
liberation of the East from the LTTE and felicitate, sans any racial,
religious or political bias, the Armed Forces who had contributed to
this humanitarian effort, sources said.
Symbolising the triumphant completion of the operations, the Armed
Forces Chiefs will present a ‘Parchment’ Sannasa at this ceremony to
President Rajapaksa, who will thereafter address the Nation and proclaim
the rapid ‘Eastern Development’ programme officially.
The Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry appealed to the
public to hoist the national flag at every household, religious
institution, public and private business or other establishment and
motor vehicle, to mark this event which is considered second only to the
‘Independence Day’, and held in appreciation of the services of the War
Heroes, in defeating the LTTE in the East.
The Ministry has organised a host of programmes at several locations
to celebrate this event at regional level.
The ceremony will include several cultural and traditional pageants
of song and dance. It will also include a parade by the three Armed
Forces and the Police.
Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka and other ministers are
expected to participate.
The Samastha Lanka Pevidi Sanvidhanaya has called on the public to
light a Polthel Pahana (Oil Lamp) at 6.33 p.m., in every household to
pay homage to the War Heroes who have sacrificed their life and limb for
the motherland. Bodhi Poojas and Gilan Pasa Buddha poojas have also been
arranged islandwide.
The Pevidi Sanvidhanaya urged the public to serve kevum, kiribath and
plantains to the Armed Forces and police personnel on duty at roadblocks
and barriers this morning. The ceremony will be covered live by
Rupavahini and SLBC.
While all schools in the island commemorated the ‘Eastern Victory’
yesterday, arrangements had been made by school officials, on the
Government’s request for all the schoolchildren to listen to a ‘special
address’ of President Rajapaksa yesterday.
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Nagenahira Navodaya Programme
8.00 a.m. Commencement of ceremony
8.33 a.m. Hoisting of the National flag by the President
8.42 a.m. Two minutes silence to commemorate war heroes followed by a
21 Gun Salute and presentation of the ‘Parchment’ to the President by
the three Service Chiefs.
9.05 a.m. President Mahinda Rajapaksa addresses the Nation.
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